May 31, 2010 – Acts 4

This reading should be encouragement to us to speak the Good News with bravery in the face of a world that doesn’t want to hear it. I love Peter’s response when the group comes back. Their best response to what is going on is to say stop doing this. Peter only states should we obey you or God. I cannot stop speaking the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit, so alive in him, that he could not contain his preaching. How does the world view people that cannot contain their love of Christ. They tell us that religion is a private thing. They say to keep it in our homes or to ourselves. And for the most part we do, either out of fear or out of lukewarmness. Peter is our example that we should have no fear. We should be proud to boast the name of Christ. Let us reflect on that.

May 30, 2010 – Isaiah 27-28

A few things. 27:4 – God is not angry. We read that he will cut down the dragon, destroy this land or that, let famine kill off here and there, but it is not out of anger. We assume anger is the motivation because when we do something or see something that is violent or destructive, we assume anger is involved in one way or another. God says there is no anger in these actions.

We get the reference to the cornerstone being tested in 28:16. The more familiar saying about the cornerstone which is rejected comes from Psalm 118:22. But this is in the similar line. The cornerstone will be one that is tested and tried. Which is a good thing. You do not want a cornerstone that has not been tested because the stability will not be there.

Third, growing up on the farm I can appreciate the last part of chapter 28. The way I am reading it, God is saying that farmers have a special understanding for what God is trying to do for His chosen people. You cannot have a harvest unless you plow the filled and make the land ready for the seed. You cannot get the produce without harvesting or thrashing the wheat. Getting fruit from the land is not something that comes from doing nothing. God could make it that simple, but that is not what He wants nor would it result in a genuine relationship. He must clear the way so He can plant the seeds. He must harvest the field and sort the fruit from the weeds. Jesus also uses agriculture in many of His parables. I just enjoy the fact that I understand this idea a little more than some because of where I grew up.

May 29, 2010 – Genesis 40

If you have ever seen Joseph and the Technicolor Dream coat, this story of Joseph should be very familiar. I love the (some might call it innocence) naiveté of Joseph. He is thrown into jail because of it, really traded to slavery because of it. Here, he gives these interpretations and makes his request in a very, childlike manner. I also get a kick out of the baker. He hears that the cupbearer received good news and assumes that he will receive it as well. It makes you think about the saying Kill the Messenger or Bearer of Bad news. We never like to hear bad news, or we choose to ignore it sometimes. We are so odd in that we long for people to be honest with us, but get angry when that honesty isn’t what we want to hear. Then we wonder why we have trust issues. When people are afraid to tell you the truth, how can you ever trust anyone. It would appear that many young celebrities may go through an extreme of this. They go through the developmental years of their lives never being given anything but good news and praise and when something happens that can’t be glossed over, they can’t handle it. What makes me nervous is that many people are being taught how to raise their families by either watching these celebrities, watching celebrity TV shows, reading books by the people that groom the celebrities. We seem to want to raise children that never have to hear bad news or anything real. We shelter children because we don’t think hearing what is actually going on is good for them. What happens when they have to leave. How do they deal with bad news when they have never had to deal with it before.

May 28, 2010 – Catechism 295-301

We read more about the creation of all things and God’s hand in that. Just a couple of things that jumped out. God detest none of the things that He has made. This goes with the idea that God does not make junk. He loves everything that He created with an infinite love. And God does not create and then abandon what is created. He is a part of it and it cannot be separated from Him because He is outside of its reach and a part of every piece of it. It is always awh inspiring to think about God and how large He is.

May 27, 2010 – Acts 2:37-3:26

I know there is a lot of debate going on with some of my notes or thoughts and that is great.  I should, as always, clarify that I am not an expert on any of this, I just throw thoughts into somewhat coherent words.  I encourage us all to put our thoughts into this exchange and do always do so in a loving and charitable way.  I hope we have done so thus far and I have enjoyed the exchanges. 

When I was reading this about the early Church, it brought to mind the 2 main beliefs of some Protestant denominations.  Really only one.  Between Faith Alone and Bible Alone I have heard many different arguments and debates.  Faith Alone, although I don’t agree with, I feel is a much more plausible belief than the Bible alone.  That understanding just doesn’t sit well in my mind.  Reading this section about Peter standing up and teaching these new converts and then the description of what they do as a community is in all Protestant Bibles (I am assuming this). 

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. …they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. “

There is nothing in there about reading the Bible or believing in the Bible Alone as your authority.  These early Christians learned not from the Bible but from the teaching of the Apostles.  And they did not read the Bible and interpret it on their own.  There was no Bible.  How can a religion be based on a belief that could not be believed by its founders.  How can the First Christian Church say they believe in the Bible Alone when the First Christians did not share that belief.  I have never heard a convincing argument that the Bible Alone is what we are suppose to believe.  There must be some authority outside of the Bible that gives us the Bible and tells us the Bible is correct.  If God is that authority and the Bible Alone is true, Jesus should have given us the Bible before He left and should have said everything in here is all you need to know. 

May 26, 2010 – Isaiah 23-24

Reading this I was thinking that we cannot really ever relate to this.  And when I say we, I mean the typical American.  I have no way of knowing what a city, laid waste of, in desolation, attacked and destroyed looks or feels like.  I am sure that when this was written, a greater percentage of people would have some knowledge of what that might look like.  During the middle ages when towns were attacked or plagues could destroy whole populations, they could get more of this imagery.  Even early in the last century, those in Europe and around the world where war destroyed cities and bombs wiped out thousands in an instant, they may relate to that.  And even presently, in third world regions, there are those that deal with populations in war and desolation that could relate to these experiences.  I can only imagine through the words and what I have seen in TV and movies what this would be like.  It is out there, I can’t really grasp it or feel it down deep, because I have nothing close to relate it to.  I am not wishing for that, that is just what I was thinking about, trying to picture the scene as I was reading. 

May 25, 2010 – Genesis 39

Just thinking about how the Lord was treating Joseph and what to take from that.  We know already that the Lord has plans for Joseph and those plans require putting him in a position of power, so He needed to work him into that type of situation.  I think sometimes we can read something like this and relate it in a judgmental way.  That person is well off, so God loves them more and that person isn’t doing well in life so they must not be in God’s good graces.  I believe some people are better off in life than others, but I think it is for a reason.  Fr., in his homily today, talked about being rich and the difficulty it means getting into heaven.  It is not the being rich, but what you do with it or how you behave.  God puts people in good fortune to see if they act grateful, generous, and charitable or if they are greedy, and only seek more.  We are always being put in situations where we must make chooses.  Don’t let our good fortune in one thing lead us down a path of greed or arrogance but one of charitable thanksgiving. 

May 24, 2010 – Catechism 290-294

The first thing I thought about was that God created everything outside Himself.  Some have the idea that everything is God, nature, beings, everything, is God.  This is not the way we see it.  Everything that exist, exist outside of the Being of God, separate from Him.  I have never heard God described as God the creator, Jesus His Word and Holy Spirit His Wisdom all working together to form creation.  God did not create everything out of some need He had, but to “manifest” His perfection through it.  I think we get caught up in thinking “what has God done for me lately” and believe He owes us something.  We must remember, He is perfect and does not NEED us.  He WANTS us to choose Him and would have created everything just for us to make that choice.

May 23, 2010 – Acts 2:5 – 2:36

We just had a portion of this reading Sunday.  The gift of tongues is one that I still don’t fully understand, but did have a very good discussion about it with the teens last Wed.  One of the things that I was thinking about along with our discussion is the fact that if you have those that speak in tongues, you must have those that can interpret it.  It appears that this gift that the Apostles received was a special type of tongues, so that everyone understood it or the gift of understanding was given to the crowd.  I would go with the latter, just because we read later how those in the crowd received the Holy Spirit, so they did not have the gifts when the Apostles were speaking.  We also see Peter taking a leadership role here as well. 

May 22, 2010 – Psalms 16-17

You have to imagine that Jesus would have at least most the Psalms memorized.  That is how the Jews of that time had to do it.  And you would think that most of the early Christians had the Psalms memorized.  I just picture them praying Psalm 17 when they were being or about to be martyred.  It just has the feeling to it that it would be said by someone who is about to suffer greatly at the hands of the wicked because of their trust and faith in God.  It especially seems something Jesus would have been praying because of the innocence of the person praying.

May 21, 2010 – Genesis 38

In verses 8-9 we see that masturbation is a sin that greatly offends the Lord and what he suffers for it.  I don’t know of any other place this is brought up as clear as it is here. 

I don’t know what to make of this story.  When Judah says that she will burn, he doesn’t know the whole story I am guessing.  From the footnotes I guess we are not to look to harshly on him for having intercourse with the temple prostitute.  It appears that was common and some type of sign or sacrifice.    

May 20, 2010 – Catechism 282-289

Once again we see the idea that all men are trying to seek or find God.  It is a human trait.  It was interesting to read about all the different ways that humans have related to God.  I am sure there are others.  Just seeing them all listed at once I thought was interesting. 

May 19, 2010 – Acts 1-2:4

A great deal happens in a very short period here.  The Ascension of the Lord, choosing Judas’ replacement, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Lots we could talk about.  The Ascension always seems to happen very quickly.  They are walking and talking and then, up into a cloud Jesus goes and He is gone.  When it is said that He will come back the same way, I wonder also if they mean quickly like that, in the middle of someone’s conversation. 

You can see here when the apostles are together, Peter appears to be in the leadership role.  This will take place a lot in Acts as we continue through.  All of these moments when the apostles look to Peter as the leader of their group are what Catholics point to when we talk about the leadership role of the Pope.

They replace Judas.  It is not something where when one of the apostles died, the spot stopped existing.  They replaced Judas with Matthias and brought him into that role.  This is one of the places where Catholics look to for the idea of the succession of our Church leadership.  When a bishop dies, the position does not end.  Someone is called up to replace him.  Thus this connection back to the Apostles.  Catholics can trace our lineage of Popes back to Peter and his replacement Linus and so on. 

Jesus and His brothers.  The Catholic Church believes that Mary was ever virgin and Jesus did not have brothers or sisters.  I have heard the argument that there are multiple places where the Bible talks about Jesus’ brothers and sisters.  This can be explained by the fact that it is a translation issue and there was no word for cousin in the Hebrew language.  I am no expert on Hebrew or any language, but I have heard that reasoning.  Even if you don’t buy that argument, look at this section closely and see if Jesus’ brothers being Mary’s children makes any sense.  It talks about all the people that were with the apostles.  There were some women, probably the same ones that were with Jesus on the cross and preparing His burial.  Let’s be generous and say 15 women.  Plus the 12 Apostles you have 27.  Then there is Mary and Jesus’ brothers.  28 and Jesus’ brothers.  What does the next line say.  120 people.  I heard an apologist say that if that if these 92 were Jesus’ brothers, Mary was not in Perpetual virginity but in Perpetual Labor.  The notion that whenever the Bible says Jesus’ brothers it means that these were Mary’s children just doesn’t make sense if you look at this.  It may be the language thing, it may be something else, but Mary could not have 92 sons, not counting Jesus and His sisters.      

May 18, 2010 – 1 Maccabees 3:27-59

The beginning of this section got me thinking of our country and the way it is spending money (making/printing money).  The leader had a single objective in mind and went to the treasury and spent every penny they had.  Only then did they realize that there were other expenses that they were obligated to.  So, they leave to get money from other counties (China was not available to give loans or buy the debt of others yet).  It doesn’t take that idea any further, it just made me look at how we think of money and our credit.  

May 17, 2010 – Genesis 37:12-37:36

So, Rueben seems to be the least guilty brother.  He stops them from killing Joseph, plans on saving him, and seems the most grieved by Joseph being taken.  Why not tell Jacob what happened then.  Although he didn’t guilt, was he none the less pleased with the result.  Maybe it is similar to the feeling you get when someone’s misfortune benefits you.  Even those times when you may hope that someone fails or doesn’t get something so that you can succeed or get it.  I know sometimes that thought will pop into my head and I try to quickly get rid of it.  But then it turns out bad for someone else and good for me.  Even if I may feel a little guilty for wishing ill for someone, I don’t not take the good.  Rueben seems to be making the best decision he can, I would imagine if he sides against his brothers he will end up in the cistern as well. 

Now, picture Jacob’s goodbye to Joseph.  There is nothing special about it, yet that is the last time Jacob will see him.  (I know that isn’t true, but at this point in the story Jacob thinks so.)  It makes me think of all those nonchalant goodbyes we give our loved ones everyday, when it could be our last.  How did all those spouses say goodbye the morning of 9/11 to have that be their last.  How many left that morning without saying I love you, without saying goodbye, or worse yet left in an argument.  It makes me think about how life can be taken, anytime.  Remember Jacob and what he was thinking when he saw that tunic.  What he would do over again.  What he would say if he could say goodbye again. 

May 16, 2010 – Catechism 275-281

The idea of creation.  Of something from nothing.  That God created all things from thinking them into existence.  There is no scientist or scientific theory that can really explain what started creation.  They have theories, some I’ve heard that sound much more far-fetched than a God creating things with His thoughts, but we are only able to go so far with science.  Our understanding takes us to certain origins, but something always comes from something.  The question about what came before that first something started is answered by God.     

May 15, 2010 – Matthew 27:62-28

The last description we get of the apostles in this Gospel is that the still doubted.  Why is that.  It is followed by the mission statement, but why were they still doubting.  I understand they have not received the Holy Spirit, at least in this telling, and this leads right in to Pentecost, but I don’t see why that is put in there.  Is it to encourage us to move forward even when we doubt.  Is it to show us that our faith can do great things even if it is not perfect or we have doubts.  It is telling us that … I couldn’t think of anything else.  It just seemed an odd way to end.   

May 14, 2010 – Isaiah 18-20

A couple of different thoughts, some pertaining to the readings, others not so much. Egypt is such a big deal for such a long time, yet today we here so little about it. Granted the world was very small then and Egypt was a large portion compared to what it is now, but I think it is or will be important again. It just feels like something would stem for there, good or bad, before we have our conclusion.

Now more, not to do with it. The Holy Land, and the general area, are a very involved place right now and always has been it seems for known history. But since Jesus, things have slowly moved away from there. Rome to Europe to North America. The focus of the Globe has shifted. This is very conspiracy theory, but with the US seeming to titter a bit and China seeming to grow a bit on the world stage, perhaps there is another shift. The center of the globe may be moving to Asia before it makes its way back to the Holy Land for the End times.

Another thought, and I don’t know why this popped into my head while I was reading, but disaster movies like Armageddon with the asteroid hitting the Earth, as a Christian do we think that is possible. Here is where I am coming from. All the bad things that happen in the world stem from evil or people doing bad things. Any disasters dealing with the weather or the environment can somewhat be pointed to our human greed and what we have done to the environment in making materials or disposing of them improperly and the like. But what evil or sin can humans do that would bring an asteroid to hit the planet. You can’t trace the effect back to a cause that humans did. It may be the same argument you could make if volcanoes shot of enough smoke to kill us all, but I don’t think a single volcano leveling a town is the same. You could argue that people should not live near that area and it is only the want of material things, great view on an island home, that causes them to be there. Same argument I heard after Katrina and talking about people building a city below sea level just because that is where there is money to be made. Anyway, some very random thoughts.

May 13, 2010 – Genesis 36:31-37:11

I don’t know what to think of Joseph. Why did he tell his brothers about these dreams. Is it arrogance over them, is he naïve because he is young. It would seem that if there is tension between a group and people and me, I won’t do anything to increase the tension. Obviously these are prophesies for later, does he not understand them. It says Jacob pondered them, but we don’t get to know if he educated Joseph about what they could mean. Much like Samuel hearing God’s voice in the night and not knowing what it was, does Joseph have anyone to guide him in what he is dreaming about. Joseph is the youngest and most loved (why isn’t Benjamin the most loved).

Question – is Joseph the first prophet. I don’t recall in reading so far someone making prophesies about what is to come. God has made promises to people about what may come or where to go, but I believe this is the first time we have someone telling others about a dream that predicts an outcome of the future. Maybe I am forgetting something.

May 12, 2010 – Catechism 268-274

The idea that nothing is impossible with God is so fundamental in Christian religion, yet we disagree about things we don’t think can be.  The Eucharist being the real presence is what came to mind first.  It is so easy to say the with God all things are possible, but to have the faith to let that really sink in so that you can live your life based on that idea is something different adn a main reason we give so much honor to Mary.   

May 11, 2010 – Matthew 27:32-27:61

It is probably a little weird, but when I was reading the line when Jesus cried out and they said wait let’s see if someone answers, it made me think of the Salem witch trials.  It always confused me a little the stories about how they would test to see if you were a witch.  They would tie you up, weigh you down, and throw you in the lake.  If you drowned, you weren’t a witch, you were however DEAD.  You would think that people, able to sail across the sea, settle a town and survive in a new world would think of something better.  Here, they are doing a similar thing with Jesus.  Testing Him.  If He can survive this we will believe in Him, if not, obviously we were right.  I can understand that they may have said that, but was it really true.  Look back on what the leaders said about His other miracles.  They said he got his power from Satan, expels Satan by Satan.  So, if they had seen some glorious miracle at this point, do we really believe they would have changed their minds.  I don’t think so and I am assuming God new as much.   

May 10, 2010 – Wisdom 1-2

Calumny - a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something.  Well, if someone picked up the Bible and only read the first handful of verses in 2nd chapter of Wisdom, they would have a pretty warped sense of our belief and religion.  When we think that the atheist and modern thinking people of our age are new to the world, look at the description in Wisdom and you will see that there have always been those like that. 

“For haphazard were we born….our body will be ashes and our spirit will be poured abroad like unresisting air…So our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and will be dispersed like a mist pursued by the sun's rays and overpowered by its heat…For our lifetime is the passing of a shadow…Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are real, and use the freshness of creation avidly”

Is there a better description for the idea of moral relativism.  We were just created randomly, life is just our life of earth, there is nothing afterwards, we should do what makes us feel good.  And I love how that idea leads into the actions it will cause.  Hurting the poor for gain, not helping those is need.  Then it goes directly into a prophesy about how they will treat the Son of God.  He is different from us, God will protect Him, let us see if He is who He says He is, “ Let us condemn Him to a shameful death.”  They tested God and the Son of God by putting the Son of God to death to see if He would save Himself.  These couple chapters show us what the idea of atheism and moral relativism lead to.

All that doesn’t mention that the 1st Chapter tries to explain that God created all good things and loves and cherishes them all.  The things that are evil in the world, when bad things happen, it is brought about by the sin that was brought into the world by people.  These are two very interesting chapters.   

May 9, 2010 – Genesis 36-36:30

More names for the genealogy.  Check it out. 

http://www.geni.com/share?t=6000000007361237897

May 8, 2010 – Catechism 257-267

Well there you go.  The Theology of the Trinity.  Now that we all have a clear understanding of that, we can all become scholars.  (LOL)

I wonder how many times I would have to really read all of that to get it all really straight between my ears.  Well, at least one more.  I do like their summaries at the end and I think I got some things out of it that I maybe didn’t see before, but man, there is a lot of density in that. 

May 7, 2010 – Matthew 27-27:31

Judas’ regret.  I think it is something we don’t think about very often.  The fact that once we make a decision and do something, that’s it.  You cannot go back and redo it.  You can try to make up for it, you can try to fix things, you can ask for forgiveness, but you can never undo a done.  We go through life living moment to moment doing whatever, and each moment is then gone.  POOF.  I say it a lot when I am trying to be funny about something “well I can’t get that blank amount of time back”.  Michelle used it the other day when see watched Lost with me.  It is so true, and yet do we really think about all the decisions we have to make in a days time.  What effect they have not only on us but those around us.  Yes there are things that will not make a large difference one way or the other, but I think we need to take care of all of our moments or the important moments might catch us off guard. 

May 6, 2010 – Psalm 53-55

Maskil means Enlightened according to dictionary.com.  I am not sure if that adds to anything, I just didn’t know what it meant.  I like at the end of Psalm 54 when it talks about the Name of the Lord has saved him.  Almost as if when he is in danger, he says Lord, Lord, Lord and is rescued.  It may not be a literal saving that we might think of, but there have been times when I have been struggling when thinking about the Lord or praying has really helped me get through.  I think that is something we could all try next time we get in one of those situations, just whispering or saying to ourselves, Lord, Lord Lord.  See what that does for our situation and our souls. 

May 5, 2010 – Genesis 35

Is Rachel’s death somehow a result of her taking that idol from her father’s home.  And why wasn’t she giving that up when they asked for all the other idols.  Genesis 31:31-37.  It just seems like it was a big enough deal to mention it then, but it has not been brought up again.  (I am still in “Lost” mode where we want answers to all the questions and everything means something)  I just thought that when they were talking about giving up the idols, Rachel would come forward.  But she didn’t, and then she died right after that. 

I didn’t know that it was Bethlehem where she died.  I know if you ever went to visit, they have a huge Church where Jesus was born, but I wonder if they still have anything marking where Rachel is buried.   

May 4, 2010 – Catechism 249-256

The three persons of the Trinity are three persons relative to each other.  Para 255 talks about it this way, and I guess I have never thought about it that way.  We always are trying to define things above the meaning words can give and we have already talked about things like this, but that is an interesting way to look at it.  Relative to this or that is how that thing is viewed compared to this or that.  Moral Relativity is a popular term these days and it is the idea that if I think it is ok then it is ok.  But the idea of what is relative to God, what is on that level, the only thing that is there is God.  So the fact that there are the three persons of God, relative to each other, what is the argument to that.  We are dealing with a  relativity that is beyond our understanding.  I had just never thought about it in “relative” terms I guess.

May 3, 2010 – Matthew 26:47-75

Those who take the sword fall by it.  Here is a stark contrast to the Christian ideal and that of the Islam (as I understand it.  Someone please correct me if I am wrong).  I believe they have a teaching or a belief for their religion to convert the world.  But they either believe it will be through or are allowed to accomplish this by force.  Jesus says that this will not be His followers way.  A couple of thoughts on this.  First, it would seem completely against free will to force people through violence to believe your beliefs.  It’s the same reason that we cannot attack people and force our way of life on them.  They have to see it and want it for themselves.  Only then will it take in a fundamental way.  So, I see a flaw in any type of religion or anything in forcing people to your way.  And second, I think about the Crusades and what that was all about.  I don’t know enough about it to say with any certain terms, but it seems a very flawed strategy if its intent was to convert the Holy Land by force, for the reasons stated above.  I do know there was a time was Christianized Europe was in fear of an attack and the Church organized a defense of Europe, but I think that was something different than the Crusades. 

Verse 63 they ask Jesus if He is the Messiah.  Did they know He was and knew He could not lie.  Were they really curious.  What if He had said no, would they have let Him go.  I don’t know what they were looking for as far as an answer.  He tells them the truth, although He doesn’t answer the question directly they take it as an affirmative.  Were they only asking the question to get evidence against Him.  It doesn’t appear that they needed it, they had already determined He would be found guilty.  Was it just for the show, for the crowds.  Then again it was a secret tribunal in the middle of the night.  I am just trying to see their motivation for the questioning if they have already made up their minds not to believe Him.

May 2, 2010 – Psalms 27-29

Psalm 27, if you read it, at first I was thinking that he was resigned to whatever fate God had for him.  In the face of all these foes, if it meant death for following God, then death it would be.  But towards the end, I think it is not whatever God wills if that means death, but he believes God is going to defeat his enemies and that will be his deliverance.  Some may not see the distinction, and maybe I am seeing something that isn’t there, but I think there is.  Christians, throughout history, have asked for God’s assistance, but have faced martyrdom with confidence in pride that dying for Christ would be there deliverance.  I don’t know if David has that in mind when singing this Psalm.  I also don’t know what is meant by the land of the living.  If he means earthly life, then I think he is asking God to defeat his enemies. If it is the land of eternal life, God of Abraham…the God of the Living not the dead, then maybe he is clinging to whatever God’s will is, whether that  is death or not, and his confidence in God is firm in God’s will. 

Psalm 28 brought to mind that food and nourishment is always brought up because of its importance.  Verse 9 talks about feeding and sustain His people forever.  We have the Manna in the desert, the feeding the 5,000.  All these foreshadowings of the Eucharist and it helps us to understand the importance of the Eucharist.  God is going to provide us with something to feed and sustain us forever. 

May. 1, 2010 – Genesis 34

What a story.  Kidnapping, revenge, battle strategy.  This has it all for a very short chapter.  But what do we take from it.  I have more questions to ponder than answers.  First, what was Jacob thinking.  He didn’t do anything when he found out and still didn’t want to do anything when his sons returned.  We learn at the end that he is afraid of those living in the land.  Again, we see this theme of not trusting in the Lord.  Jacob has done a lot to show his trust, yet when he comes against the fear of others, he falters.  It comes to his trust in the Lord verses his fear of others. 

Then the Bash Brothers.  They use the sign of God’s covenant to defeat their enemies.  It is like inviting someone to pray with you and then when they are most vulnerable, killing them out of revenge.  It seems a little off and don’t really know if this was the plan from the beginning or the just saw an opportunity.

We also see that they weren’t looking for converts.  They have people, willing to follow them and their ways, and they kill them.  They go about getting the girl the wrong way, but they seem to repent a bit and want to cooperate.  We know that Jacob is not suppose to mix with others, but have we heard this about his sons and what they are suppose to do.  It just seems like a different type of story and one that is interesting to meditate on.  Which side we relate to, what their motivations are, who is doing the Lord’s will.